THE WORLD'S SUPPLIES OF IRON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 26 April 1902, Page 2

THE WORLD'S SUPPLIES OF IRON.

That the present is a good time to prospect New Zealand's iron ore, ironsand, and coal deposits, may be gatherer! from the following: "' A geod deal of anxiety, writes Mr J. Stevens Jeans in in the current number of the /engineering Magazine, has been felt during the ,1886 two years as to the available supplies of iron ores and fuel. The total world's consumption of iron ore-i in 1899 was probably more than ninety million tons. Of this quantity, I take it that tha United States contributed more than twenty - two millions. But in all countries alike, exceptional efforts were made to increase the output bo as to overtake the greatly stimulated demand. These efforts are still being continued. Spain hits been ransacked from one end to the other, in order to increase the available supplies. Prance is opening .up new SJurces of supply in Grefice, North Africa, and elsewhere. The Gfrmans have sought to acquire elmsst a monopoly of the supply of Swedish Lapland—within the Arctic circle—for a number of years to come, and have [concluded arrangements which point to | their belitf ih*t iron ares are likely to t ecoriie increasingly scarce. This ii a geuerai Apprehension, and if, as I believe, it is justified by tha facta, then i f to bo probable that this condition nrmy mainly de ermine future supremacy. M.-dsme de S'ael once observed that ' Piv.videnee figh's on the side of the biggest ba'.talions.' In the war of c imim-rco and industry, it is conceivable t h at Providenc may in ihe future t-beua. to interpose en bihalf of fire ration That has the largest available supplies of cheap i:on ore."

ti-jE iN.vniura.

It is gratifying f o notice that efforts are being nude t- re-establish thej Boys' Institute during tbe winter, months. Last win'er the Institute,! thanks to several earnest workers, w«s carried on very sue essfully, and there. j can be no dcubt but that it had a very j [benflficial ehVt, avid is deserving of, every eneotvag.™e;:t. Until a to.hviical reboot is es .ibiished som<* suoh nsvitutiori is an absolute necessity in a towu the size of New Plymouth, '--'hero absolutely m provision is made for l young lads to moet for n few hours! of an evening for social intercourse,! study, or amusement, The resu't is] tiie-e lads'congregate in the streets, where they often learn more than is good for th<m. The object of the promoters of the Boys' Institute was to fill this wan*•, and we bflitva its success exceeded thtir expectations. Thb r. oms are to ba reopened on Monday nest, and the programme for the* session will be similar to that for last session. In addition to th* personal aa-istance of those able to help, entertain, and instruct tho lads attending, funds aro required, and it is to be hoped that those who can will contribute librrdly. The Rev. F. G.

Evans and Mr W. J. Penn are the

joint treasurers of the funds and they will thankfully r.ceive uny donations of money and tui abl. bouks aud papers on behalf of the, Institute.